The Phoenix Suns signed James Nunnally on Saturday.

The addition brings the Suns' training camp roster to 18 players.

Nunnally averaged 11 points for the Miami Heat's summer league team in Las Vegas.

The Phoenix Suns have signed guard Dionte Christmas.

Christmas averaged 10.1 points for the Suns’ Las Vegas Summer League team this summer.

“We’re excited to add Dionte to our roster,” said Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough. “He was a key contributor for our Las Vegas Summer League team and his scoring ability, leadership and toughness will help us this season.”

When Ryan McDonough took over as general manager of the Phoenix Suns, his objective was clear.

“Walking in there, the main thing I wanted to do is upgrade the talent,” said McDonough. “And do it in a fashion that was sustainable for the long term. I didn’t want to try to take any shortcuts or try any quick fixes.”

The Suns have acquired Eric Bledsoe, Alex Len and Archie Goodwin this offseason.

“What I believe in is kind of what we did in Boston — you build through the draft and you are hoping you draft well enough and keep all your young players together and have that be your core of the next great Suns team,” he said. “That model is what Oklahoma City has done, what San Antonio did. You draft very well and keep those guys.

“What we did in Boston when I was with the Celtics was a little bit different. We drafted fairly well and we kept some of the guys, but we also traded a few of them for Ray Allen and Garnett, and we built a championship team that way. There are different ways to do it but the one consistent is you need good young players and you need draft picks.”

Channing Frye has been cleared medically to return to basketball activities after a year away from basketball due to an enlarged heart.

“They told me, ‘No human being is 100 percent healthy. The highest we give is a 98 percent. You are a 98 percent,’ ” Frye said. “They said, ‘We see this all the time.’ I don’t have any fear. I’m not scared to push myself and run and play and get my heart rate up. I’m just waiting on the paperwork. I’m healthy. It’s out of my hands. It’s up to the Suns and what they feel comfortable doing.”

Frye said a virus caused his heart’s enlargement.

Frye is unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season, just now beginning offseason work because he was restricted to golf, yoga and set-shooting for most of the past year.

“It’s a long process and I’m continuing to be patient,” Frye said. “This is not something to rush. I want the Suns to make the right decision. I’m 100 percent unequivocally healthy. I’m excited to get back with the team when this is resolved.”

The Phoenix Suns have released Michael Beasley.

Beasley had two seasons remaining on his contract with the Suns.

“The Suns were devoted to Michael Beasley’s success in Phoenix,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “However, it is essential that we demand the highest standards of personal and professional conduct as we develop a championship culture. Today’s action reflects our commitment to those standards. The timing and nature of this, and all of our transactions, are based on the judgment of our Basketball leadership as to how best to achieve our singular goal of rebuilding an elite team.”

“We have high standards for all of our players,” said Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough. “We expect them to represent the team and the community in a positive manner both on and off the court.”

Michael Beasley has enough talent to carve out a significant role in the NBA. However, through five seasons in the league, he hasn’t played to his potential.

One NBA scout believes it all comes down to mental focus.

“Well, for the most part ... he’s just not engaged all that often away from the ball,” the scout said. “At both ends, his focus drifts and it just kills what his team is trying to accomplish ... whether it’s rotating or closing out in time or with effort on defense or making a hard cut on offense. He has the physical tools to succeed but rarely plays with a fire. Even when he has the ball, you can see that in how he tries to finish at the basket.”

Beasley shot just 48.7 percent from inside eight feet last season while spending time at both forward spots.

“A lot of people like to say he’s been kind of out of position as a small forward,” the scout said. “There’s probably something to that -- he certainly has more trouble defensively on the perimeter. He’s no beast trying to guard power forwards, either, but a lot of guys near his size play the four spot.”